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Transportation

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is responsible for the management and oversight of the statewide transportation network of roads, bridges, tunnels and airports.  The Department is organized into five divisions – Registry, Aeronautics, Rail & Transit (including the MBTA), Highway and the Office of the Secretary.

Over the last two years MassDOT and the MBTA have engaged in a statewide discussion with residents, business leaders, legislative leadership and members and stakeholders to assess the condition of the Commonwealth’s transportation network and develop recommendations for moving the system forward to support a 21st century economy.  In January 2013, the Patrick Administration released The Way Forward to improve the customer’s experience, promote continued economic growth, provide congestion relief, increase passenger capacity and save money.  As drafted, this ten-year $13 B capital investment plan would have reduced congestion on our roads, delays and crowding on our public transportation system, modernized antiquated systems and invest in targeted expansion projects that create jobs and economic development across the Commonwealth.  In July 2013, the Legislature approved a transportation finance plan that generated nearly half of the Governor’s proposed funding for additional capital investment.  Several of the Administration’s goals are reflected in this final legislation package, but the reduced level of investment means that many worthy projects identified by residents and customers across the Commonwealth will continue to be deferred.  Furthermore, many projects proposed in this capital plan require further legislative bond authorization in order to move forward with implementation.

In 2013, the Project Selection Advisory Council was created to meet and establish new statewide project selection criteria. The Council, consisting of eight appointed members, will establish the criteria and goals to guide the development of future capital plans, including prioritized project listings that clearly articulate why projects are advanced for funding.  These criteria will be published after the Council has completed its work.

While the Council develops these criteria, the Commonwealth must move forward to address known challenges within the Commonwealth’s transportation network. The Fiscal Year 2014-2018 Capital Investment Plan, pending legislative approval of bond authorization, begins to use the new capacity created by the 2013 Transportation Finance legislation to strategically provide meaningful improvements across the Commonwealth.  The publication of this budget will be followed by a more detailed MassDOT capital investment plan. These plans will facilitate the completion of critical projects to mitigate daily impacts on millions of residents and visitors.

The investments highlighted in this Five-Year Capital Investment Plan are based in large part by feedback from MassDOT’s customers – residents of and visitors to the Commonwealth.  Over the past two years, MassDOT participated in over 36 public meetings, hearings and community forums to discuss what transportation system the Commonwealth needs – both now and in the future. The feedback from these meetings and other public engagement process has informed the following criteria to guide the investments made in this plan.  These criteria are: projects must improve safety for customers and staff, promote job growth and foster economic development, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support housing and commercial development and ensure that all portions of the Commonwealth have equitable access to high quality transportation options.

The following graph reflects the Administration's estimated capital investment in transportation capital projects and programs over the next five years, as compared to fiscal years 2007 and 2013 transportation related spending.

Administration Accomplishments to Date

• The Patrick Administration continues its historic level of investment in infrastructure.  Over the past five years, the Administration has doubled the capital investment in our road and bridge program and created the $3 B Accelerated Bridge Program (ABP), the largest statewide infrastructure investment program ever.
• With the additional investment provided by the ABP, the number of structurally deficient bridges in the Commonwealth is being reduced, from 534 to 437 – a nearly 20% decline.
• Through the ABP, MassDOT has become a national leader in accelerated bridge construction. In July 2012, MassDOT hosted the Federal Highway Association’s Northeast Peer-to-Peer Exchange on Prefabricated Bridge Elements.  The attendees visited the River Street Heavy Lift project in Boston, as well as the Holloway Street and Bay Street prefabricated bridge element projects in Taunton, to learn how MassDOT has successfully implemented innovative technologies. 
• MassDOT’s overall construction program creates or sustains more than 30,000 direct construction jobs across the Commonwealth.
• The Administration has strategically invested close to $1 B in the Commonwealth’s rail system through competitive grants, public funds and private sector capital. These investments, some ongoing through the FY14-18 Capital Investment Plan, represent the most significant improvements in the Commonwealth’s rail system as a whole in decades. 
• Bonds issued for ABP were rated AAA by Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, reflecting the strength of the financing behind the program.  The program also received the ‘Deal of the Year’ award from Bond Buyer magazine.

FY2014 Highlights

(Subject to legislative approval of a transportation bond bill)

• $200 M additional commitment in statewide road and bridge projects. This is all repair work in the form of bridge painting, resurfacing and other maintenance and preservation projects to alleviate congestion and reduce the backlog of much needed improvements statewide. Over the next year MassDOT will advertise an additional 76 projects that would not have been possible without the additional transportation funding.
• With over $450 M committed to the Green Line Extension project to date, the FY14-18 Capital Investment Plan anticipates Union Square service by mid-2017 and completing construction tasks necessary to ensure rest of the proposed service begins by the of this decade.
• In September 2013, the United States Army Corps of Engineers released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the South Coast Rail project.  MassDOT has adopted the Corps’ document as the state-required Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and identified the Stoughton rail alternative as its preferred route for providing the best transportation, environmental and smart growth benefits.  Once the state environmental review process is completed, MassDOT can invest in developing the final design plans for the project and obtain all of the required permits.  The capital plan will provide the resources necessary to complete the state environmental review and design process.
• Continued contributions to the Regional Transit Authorities to support the replacement of buses and improvements to maintenance facilities necessary to ensure buses are available and run on time.
• The FY14-18 Capital Investment Plan continues to fund record levels of investment in rail programs, including the completion of the Knowledge Corridor in Western Massachusetts, the continued development of the Industrial Rail Access Program and future acquisition of rail lines to support passenger service from Pittsfield to New York City and Springfield to Boston. Finally, given the success of the restored Boston to Cape Cod service, CapeFLYER, this plan commits resources to ensure permanent seasonal service is available.
• MassDOT is investing $116 M, funded through toll revenues, for paving, bridge work, redevelopment of the Callahan Tunnel and for the conversion to cashless (no stopping) All Electronic Tolling on the Massachusetts Turnpike.  Implementation of All Electronic Tolling will improve congestion and allow MassDOT to advance plans to modernize existing interchanges between the turnpike and; I-495, I-95 and Allston/Brighton.  Also, at the direction of the Legislature, MassDOT is reinstating tolls on the Western Turnpike for exits 1 through 6.  These additional revenues will be programmed for paving and bridge repair work from Springfield to Lee.
• With additional funding appropriated in the FY 14 General Appropriations Act, MassDOT is able to transfer $40 M in expenses from the capital budget to its operating budget.  The FY14-18 Capital Investment Plan was developed in accordance with the goal of ending the historical practice of using borrowed money to pay for salaries, rents and other operating expenses within the next two years.

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